Morphometric and histochemical assessment of the branchial tissue response of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), associated with chloramine-T treatment

Twelve tanks of juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), were treated twice weekly for an 11- week period with a one-hour static bath of chloramine-T (10 mg l^–1). The morphometric indices of gill damage and the histochemical characteristics of gill mucous cells of fish from treated and paired untreated tanks were compared. The use pattern of chloramine-T in this study evoked a slight increase in mean lamellar width, but it did not induce a greater degree of lamellar oedema, lamellar fusion, tissue infiltration, epithelial hyperplasia, chloride cell metaplasia or thrombosis of pillar channels in treated fish. Treatment caused a trend towards an increased number of mucous cells on lamellae, associated with a significant shift from neutral mucin to acid mucin production based on histochemical characteristics.     

A potential biomarker of androgen exposure in European bullhead (Cottus sp.) kidney

The aim of this study was to identify a signal that could be used as an androgen exposure indicator in the European bullhead (Cottus sp.). For this purpose, the ultra-structure of the kidney was characterized to identify normal structure of this organ, and histological changes previously described in the kidney of breeding male bullheads were quantified using the kidney epithelium height (KEH) assay previously developed and validated for the stickleback. In the next step, the effect of trenbolone acetate (TbA), a model androgen, was assessed to identify potential androgenic regulation of bullhead kidney hypertrophy. Measurement of KEH performed on adult non-breeding male and female bullheads exposed for 14 and 21 days to 0, 1.26 and 6.50 μg/L showed that kidney hypertrophy is induced in a dose-dependent manner, confirming the hypothesis that the European bullhead possesses a potential biomarker of androgen exposure. Combined with the wide distribution of the European bullhead in European countries and the potential of this fish species for environmental toxicology studies in field and laboratory conditions, the hypothesis of a potential biomarker of androgen exposure offers interesting perspectives for the use of the bullhead as a relevant sentinel fish species in monitoring studies. Inducibility was observed with high exposure concentrations of TbA. Further studies are needed to identify molecular signals that could be more sensitive than KEH.     

Monitoring glyphosate residues in transgenic glyphosate-resistant soybean

The availability of Roundup Ready (RR) varieties of soybean has increased the use of glyphosate for weed control in Argentina. Glyphosate [(N-phosphonomethyl)glycine] is employed for the eradication of previous crop vegetation and for weed control during the soybean growing cycle. Its action is effective, and low environmental impact has been reported so far. No residues have been observed in soil or water, either of glyphosate or its metabolite, AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid). The objective of this work was to monitor glyphosate and AMPA residues in soybean plants and grains in field crops in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Five sites were monitored in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Individual soybean plants were sampled from emergence to harvest, dried and ground. Analysis consisted in residue extraction with organic solvents and buffers, agitation, centrifugation, clean-up and HPLC with UV detection. In soybean leaves and stems, glyphosate residues ranged from 1.9 to 4.4 mg kg(-1) and from 0.1 to 1.8 mg kg(-1) in grains. Higher concentrations were detected when glyphosate was sprayed several times during the crop cycle, and when treatments approached the flowering stage. AMPA residues were also detected in leaves and in grains, indicating metabolism of the herbicide.     

High‐fibre sunflower meal as a replacement for soyabean meal in layer diets

1. Dietary fibre content of a layer diet was increased by substituting a high‐fibre sunflower meal for soyabean meal.

2. Gizzard weight and intestine length were significantly increased by increased dietary fibre.

3. Efficiency of food conversion decreased but egg production, egg weight, shell breaking strength and mortality were not affected by dietary sunflower meal.     

Antioxidant status and biomarkers of oxidative stress in bovine leukemia virus-infected dairy cows

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is among the most widespread livestock pathogens in many countries. Despite advances in understanding the pathogenesis of this disease, little is known about the involvement of oxidative stress. Therefore, this study examined the antioxidant status and the markers of oxidative stress in BLV-infected dairy cows. BLV infection was associated with an increase in triacylglycerol levels, a decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and a tendency toward lower superoxide dismutase activity in the infected animals. No significant difference was observed in other markers of oxidative stress (i.e., conjugated dienes, hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde) in the infected animals compared to controls. A novel method for the analysis of oxidative stress, Z-scan based on the measurement of the mean-value of θ in low density lipoprotein indicated that the infected animals had low-density lipoprotein particles that were slightly less modified than those from the healthy group. Thus, we conclude that BLV infection is associated with a selective decrease in GSH-Px activity without any alteration in the common plasma markers of oxidative stress.     

Bioequivalence of ivermectin formulations in pigs and cattle

The vehicle in which endectocide compounds are formulated plays a relevant role in their absorption kinetics and resultant systemic availability. The pharmaceutical bioequivalence and comparative plasma disposition kinetics of ivermectin (IVM), following the subcutaneous administration of two injectable formulations to pigs and cattle were investigated using parallel experimental designs. Sixteen parasite-free male Duroc Jersey-Yorkshire crossbred pigs (90-110 kg) (Expt 1) and 16 parasite-free male Holstein calves (100-120 kg) (Expt 2) were divided into two groups and treated subcutaneously at either 300 (pigs) or 200 (calves) microg/kg with two different propylene glycol/glycerol formal (60: 40) based IVM formulations; in both experiments pigs or calves in Group A received the test (IVM-TEST) formulation and those in Group B were treated with the reference formulation (IVM-CONTROL). Heparinized blood samples were taken from 0 h up to either 20 (pigs) or 30 (calves) days post-treatment and plasma was extracted, derivatized and analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using fluorescence detection. Early detection of IVM (12 h) with a peak plasma concentration (C(max)) between 33 and 39 ng/mL was observed in pigs. The drug was detected in plasma up to 20 days post-administration of either formulation, resulting in elimination half-lives between 3.47 and 3.80 days. There were no differences between the IVM-TEST and IVM-CONTROL formulations in the kinetic parameters (except t(max)) obtained in pigs. IVM was detected in plasma between 12 h and 30 days post-administration of both formulations under investigation in cattle. The plasma disposition kinetics of IVM in calves was similar following treatment with both formulations. C(max) values (between 40.5 and 46.4 ng/mL) were achieved at 2 days post-administration of both formulations. None of the estimated kinetic parameters were statistically different between drug formulations. The injectable IVM formulations investigated were bioequivalent after their subcutaneous administration to both pigs and calves at recommended dose rates.     

Circulating Metabolic Hormones During the Peripubertal Period and Their Association with Testicular Development in Bulls

The objective of the present study was to characterize changes in serum metabolic hormones concentrations from 20 weeks before to 20 weeks post-puberty in bulls and to investigate the associations of metabolic hormones concentrations with testicular development. Leptin concentrations increased from 16 weeks before puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty and insulin concentrations increased from puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty. Growth hormone concentrations decreased after 4 weeks post-puberty, whereas IGF-I concentrations increased from 8 weeks before puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty. During this period, testicular growth was accelerated and testosterone secretion increased substantially, without any significant changes in gonadotropin secretion. Monthly circulating concentrations of leptin, IGF-I and insulin accounted for 63% of the variation in scrotal circumference and 59% of the variation in paired testes volume. In conclusion, the secretion of metabolic hormones was not associated with changes in gonadotropins concentrations. Furthermore, the associations of leptin, IGF-I and insulin concentrations with testes size indicated that these hormones might be involved in a gonadotropin-independent mechanism regulating the testicular development in peripubertal bulls.